Janis B. Meredith's Blog: JBM Thinks Sportsparenting, page 7

“Why Does My Child Disobey?”

Every parent wonders at one time or another, “why does my child disobey?” You’ve told them over and over what to do, you’ve talked about the reasons why, you’ve discussed the consequences, and so you are left wondering, “what the heck?” when your child STILL does not cooperate. Don’t be shocked by your child’s disobedience....

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5 Building Blocks of a Strong Family

Building a strong family is a lot like building a house. In our neighborhood, I have watched the progress of several homes as they were being built. Concrete foundations, concrete brick by concrete brick, walls, roof, doors, windows–all in accordance with a very detailed architectual plan. Eventually all those individual pieces become a beautiful home,...

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When Does My Child Need a Therapist?

Every kid has moodiness, friend troubles, academic struggles, and thanks to shutdown, mental health issues stemming from isolation. So, how do you know if your child is dealing with something more serious than normal? In most cases, if you offer support, sensitivity, and patience to your child as they struggle with their volatile emotions, they...

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What if You Don’t Like Your Child’s Friends?

Besides parents and family, friends are potentially the biggest influence in a child’s life. When they are little, the balance of influence tips to the parents, and the older they get, the balance may tip towards peers. When your kids are little, you pretty much have control over who their friends are simply because you...

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Confident Parenting: How Sure are You of Your Strategy? Is it Working?

Confident parenting has nothing to do with how many parenting books or classes you’ve taken. It does not mean that you’ve figured out exactly what your child needs in every situation. And it certainly doesn’t mean that you get up every morning convinced that you have all the answers for whatever your kids will throw...

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Please Do Not Assume: “My Child Would Never Contemplate Suicide”

The suicide statistics are startling. Since 2007… Suicide rates have increased by 76% for ages 15-18. Suicide rates have nearly doubled in teen girls. The highest rate of increase in suicide among all age groups is in kids between 10 and 14 years old. Depressive symptoms are up 21% in boys, and up 50% in...

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5 Conversation Killers That Will Shut Down Good Communication in Your Home

Good communication in any home is the glue that holds the family together. It is the grease that will keep family members moving in sync. It is the foundation that will help your family weather the storms. Conversely, there are habits and behaviors that will shut healthy communication down quickly. If you are wondering why...

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6 Reasons to Ask for Parenting Advice

Sometimes it’s hard to ask for parenting advice. As moms and dads, it’s humbling to admit that we don’t’ have all the answers. But the honest truth is that parents have a huge learning handicap; there’s really no way to properly prepare for all the challenges that parenting throws at you. Our kids, after all,...

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When Other Kids Are Bullying with Words, How Should Your Child Respond?

Has your child been the victim of bullying with words? When I was a child, my mother always told me that sticks and stones would break my bones, but words could not hurt me. Though her intentions were good, the real truth is that words DO hurt. In fact, they can hurt a child just...

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Cutting Down on Fireworks in Your Home

Did you enjoy the fireworks this past weekend? Or maybe there were some fireworks in your home as well? Last week I discussed 5 rules for fighting when conflicts arise in your home. But obviously, cutting down on the amount of fighting would a more desirable goal. Yesterday, fireworks were part of a national celebration....

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